Portimão 2027: a first look
Getting there, staying near, and why this circuit is worth the journey.
Formula One's return to Portugal for 2027 brings the championship back to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, the circuit near Portimão that hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2020 and 2021. For travellers it is an unusually appealing weekend: a dramatic circuit, a coastline made for unhurried days, and some of the best driving roads in southern Europe within reach.
The circuit
The Algarve circuit sits in the hills inland from Portimão and is known for its elevation changes. Blind crests, steep drops and sweeping corners give it a rollercoaster character that drivers have praised and that reads well from the grandstands, where the topography offers long views across the track. Confirm grandstand and hospitality options through official channels when they are published.
Getting there
Faro Airport is the main gateway to the Algarve, with the circuit a drive along the coast to the west. Lisbon is further but offers more international connections, and the drive south can be an attractive part of the trip. Expect roads around the circuit to be busy on race days, and plan arrival and departure times accordingly.
Where to stay
The Algarve has a broad range of accommodation, from resort hotels on the coast to quieter quintas inland. Portimão itself, along with Lagos, Carvoeiro and Alvor, puts you within easy reach of the circuit. Demand will be high on a race weekend, so early booking is sensible, and staying a little further away in exchange for a better hotel is often a fair trade.
Make more of the week
A Grand Prix is better as the climax of a journey than as an isolated weekend. Portugal rewards that approach. The Douro Valley in the north, the mountains of the Serra da Estrela and the coastline of the Alentejo can all be strung together on the way south.
That is precisely the shape of the Renisetté Portugal Grand Prix Supercar Tour, which travels from Porto through the Douro and Serra da Estrela to Comporta, finishing in Portimão for the race weekend. See the full itinerary and dates on renisette.com.
Off-track
The western Algarve is known for its cliffs, coves and seafood. Sagres and Cape St Vincent, at the south-western tip of the country, make a fine excursion, and the hills around Monchique offer cooler air and quieter roads. Leave a day either side of the race to enjoy them.
A note on timing
Race schedules, ticketing and travel arrangements are set by the organisers and may change. We will update this guide as official details are confirmed. In the meantime, the best preparation is simply to decide early, and to plan a journey worthy of the destination.